Azad supporting Islamic terrorists: BJP MLAs

16 April 2002The Daily ExcelsiorExcelsior Correspondent

Jammu: Criticising newly nominated Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad for, what they alleged, speaking terrorists’ language, city MLAs of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), today demanded a CBI inquiry to reveal how Mr Azad has accumulated huge wealth. Addressing a joint presss conference, BJP MLAs Ch. Piara Singh, Ashok Khajuria and Hans Raj Dogra, took strong exception to the statement of Azad in which he has sought arrest of Prime Minister under POTA. BJP MLAs charged PCC chief with speaking language of anti- national forces. ''Azad’s remark against Prime Minister are not less than a anti-national act. The way he (Azad) has equated Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with Pakistani President General Parveez Musharaaf is a clear act of an anti-national'', they said and alleged that Azad with one way or other has been supporting militancy. ''Azad native village Sute is hot bed of militancy and most of the terrorists active in this area are his (Azad’s) relatives'', they alleged while labelling serious charges on Azad and his family. BJP MLAs said that PCC was an instrument in the hands of Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who first used him against Congress party and now utilising his (Azad’s) services to spread communal tension in the State. ''Azad has been enjoying luxuries of a Rajya Sabha member all due to the ‘kindness’ of Dr Farooq Abdullah. And in return, Azad was using his power as PCC Chief to accomplish Dr Abdullah’s nefarious designs'', they said, and recalled how Azad has even weakened Congress in the State to help anti-national forces. Lauching a scathing attack on Azad for fueling Islamic terrorism in the State, BJP MLAs charged Mr Azad with adopting double standard. ''Where was Azad when about three lakh Kashmiri Hindus were forced to leave their homes and hearth. When Kashmiri Hindus were deserting their homes, Azad had maintained criminal silence'', they said. Accusing State Government of meting out step-motherly treatment with Jammu region, BJP MLAs expressed surprise that adequate grants have not been given to the departments meant for the development of Jammu city. They charged the State Government with delaying release of funds for the development and betterment of Jammu region.